From Bolivia's high Altiplano to the heart of Argentina's grasslands, this trip takes you through some of South America's most beautiful landscapes. Most stunning of all is the dramatic expanse of the salt plains of Salar de Uyuni and we will cross the Altiplano along remote, seldom travelled routes, criss-crossing wild plateaux studded with volcanoes and lakes full of flamingos; it is truly spectacular. Bolivia was the economic engine of the Spanish empire and nowhere more so than the historic city of Potosi with its giant silver and tin mines and the political centre of La Paz. We descend from the Andes into Chile's Atacama Desert, to visit the atmospheric town of San Pedro before crossing the Andes again and heading into the beautiful arid regions of Argentina and the wonderful colonial city of Salta. Argentina's route 40 is truly spectacular cutting through remote red mountains beset with vine covered valleys. No trip to Argentina is complete without getting under the skin of Gaucho life and we have a unique Estancia stay for two days of horse riding on an idyllic country ranch. To cap it all off we have time to explore the cosmopolitan capital, Buenos Aires.